It’s a normal first reaction – denial. My loved one must be simply making it seem like their hearing loss is more severe than it actually is. She’s too young to require a hearing aid.
It’s possible, the both of you have begun to joke around with one another about it. Your loved one constantly asks you to speak up. You laugh about it like it’s just a game. But this game is getting old quickly. You’re starting to think that perhaps your partner, brother, or parent is either ignoring you or actually having difficulty hearing.
You want your loved one to have a balanced, energetic, and joyful life for many years so it’s probably time to be supportive and help them seek out the correct help.
If someone you know needs hearing aids they will probably be exhibiting these 4 prevalent symptoms.
1. She seems exhausted, especially in public
You may believe it’s simply an indication of aging. Your loved one just doesn’t have as much energy as they once did. When she says she just doesn’t feel like going out tonight, you try to understand.
Then she starts skipping meetings with a hobby group, organization, or club that she’s always loved, even when they meet virtually, and you start to recognize something may be wrong. Loud noise seems to drain your loved one’s energy. This is particularly true if they are in a situation where there is more than one conversation going on, or there’s a lot of background noise.
Extra energy is needed to hear and comprehend what people are saying when somebody is struggling with hearing problems. They frequently have to pull this energy from other functions in the brain like memory, talking, and moving.
Using this additional brainpower doesn’t strengthen the brain; it just makes it tired. Your loved one will often seem to shut down with exhaustion in social situations.
Don’t assume you know what she’s experiencing. It may be a mix of things. In order to get to the bottom of the problem, ask her questions and advocate for a hearing assessment.
2. She likes the TV LOUD
This is frequently one of the first signs that you might perceive in another person. Whenever they listen to music or watch TV, they turn it up really loud.
You go into the room, and it sounds like you’ve just entered a theater. You instantly get the impulse to make some popcorn, except you find that she’s just watching a reality show or documentary at a volume that almost blows your ears out. Your neighbors are even able to hear it.
When you say that the TV is too loud, she might chuckle and turn it down. Then you realize that she just switched on the captions.
Maybe she’s ashamed about it. If this is happening a lot, it may be time for you to suggest a hearing test.
3. She frequently needs people to repeat what they said
It may not be an issue if you are in a really loud setting or she’s really focused on something. If it’s happening more frequently than that, be aware.
Similarly, take notice if she seems to have a lot of difficulty hearing when she’s using the phone.
Is she constantly annoyed because she thinks people are talking too low or muttering? Does she frequently need people to repeat what they said? If so, it’s time to have that loving chat about how much better life is with hearing aids.
4. You’re feeling a tension in the relationship
Couples argue twice as much when one of them has hearing loss, according to research. They may argue about what one of them did or didn’t say, the volume of the TV, or other misconceptions.
In general, there’s just more tension in a household when someone can’t hear. Their hearing loss is stressful. Others get frustrated when they won’t go in for help. This brings about lots of hurt feelings and decisions to spend more time apart and alone.
Many couples don’t recognize that hearing loss is the cause, and this can damage their relationship irreparably. It’s important to get the proper help because even moderate hearing loss can strain relationships.
The simple act of getting a hearing exam can give you a completely new perspective on your relationship, whether you’re talking about a spouse, sister, or dear friend. Encourage your loved one to call for an appointment.
If someone has hearing loss, hearing aids can improve their lives and most will state they would never go back. Typically, they wish they wouldn’t have waited so long. Their overall quality of life will be greatly improved.
It’s not a comfortable conversation to have. But the challenge of this conversation is worth it when your loved one finally finds the help they need.
Need more useful ideas about how to address your loved one’s hearing loss? Call us right away!
